I am one of those people described in your Dec. 8 editorial “Remembering a classy `Cat'”: Kids grown, waiting impatiently for grandkids. Your description of Dr. Seuss books brought back a flood of memories.
My first lesson in race relations came from “The Sneeches,” wherein the Star-Bellied Sneeches blatantly discriminate against the Plain-Bellied Sneeches just because the Plain Bellies had no stars upon thars.”
The brilliance of Seuss’ vision was that the division between the two groups was so ridiculously wide that a huckster easily walked in, pretending to befriend both sides, creating war and confusion while stealing truckloads of money from everyone.
Years later, as an adult black woman, I am still suspicious of individuals and groups in our midst who sow dissension while picking the pockets of both the downtrodden and big business alike.
On the other hand, “Bartholomew Cubbins and the 500 Hats” just taught me to love fancy headwear (and never to take my hat off for royalty, even while being led to the gallows).
God bless wonderful, imaginative Dr. Seuss.
